"descendant of the dark-eyed one"
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Language: English
Sully
Pronunciation: [ s-UHL-ee ]
Does Sully flow with your last name?
A warm Irish nickname with dark-eyed charm
Irish
English
American
Playful
Earthy
Vintage
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Sully
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Sully
1 shorthand option for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Sully
See all →What the Sully report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Sully the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Sully
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Sully head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Sully actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with the Monsters, Inc. character Sully, which some parents find endearing, others too cartoonish
The Story of Sully
Sully is an anglicized short form of the Irish surname Sullivan, from the Gaelic Ó Súilleabháin, meaning descendant of Súilleabhán. The original name Súilleabhán is thought to derive from súil meaning eye and dubh meaning dark, giving the evocative meaning dark-eyed. Sullivan is one of the most common Irish surnames, and Sully emerged as its breezy, first-name-friendly version.
Sully gained traction as parents sought Irish-flavored names beyond the standard Finn or Liam. The 2013 Pixar film Monsters University, featuring the beloved character Sully, gave the name extra warmth and pop culture recognition.
Sullivan and by extension Sully is deeply tied to Irish-American identity. The name was common in 19th and early 20th century Irish immigrant communities throughout Boston, New York, and Chicago.
Historical Record
Sully first appeared in US Social Security records in 1993.
Over 645 babies have been named Sully in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Sully is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #3,579 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Sullivan is the 3rd most common surname in Ireland
- The character James P. Sullivan in Monsters, Inc. is nicknamed Sully by his best friend Mike
Sully in Other Languages
Irish
Súilleabhán
French
Sully
Italian
Sulli
Spanish
Suli
Popularity Over Time
#3,579
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Sully
S
Sully Erna
Musician
1968
American rock musician, lead vocalist and guitarist of Godsmack
J
James P. Sullivan (Sully) Fictional
Entertainer
Beloved blue monster protagonist of Pixar's Monsters, Inc. franchise
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Johnson
Boy
"God is gracious"
#3,553
Jerimiah
Boy
"appointed by God"
#3,733
Deanthony
Boy
"priceless, flourishing (via Anthony/Antonius)"
#3,676
Johnatha
Boy
"God has given, gift of God"
#3,398
Mylen
Boy
"gracious, dear one"
#3,774
Compare Sully with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #3,579
- Total SSA Count
- 32
- Cultural Origins
- Irish English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Sul
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Sully
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Sully fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Sully is also used as a girl name, ranked #58992.
View Sully as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Sully →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Sully with...
Same Origin Names (Irish)
See all Irish names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Sully
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Sully and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Sully sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Johnson
Boy
Hebrew (via John) origin
"God is gracious"
#3,553 in US
Jerimiah
Boy
Hebrew origin
"appointed by God"
#3,733 in US
Deanthony
Boy
Latin origin
"priceless, flourishing (via Anthony/A..."
#3,676 in US
Johnatha
Boy
Hebrew origin
"God has given, gift of God"
#3,398 in US
Mylen
Boy
Slavic mil origin
"gracious, dear one"
#3,774 in US
Latrell
Boy
American English origin
"warrior, earth ruler"
#3,589 in US
Gauge
Boy
Old North French origin
"measuring instrument, standard dimension"
#3,741 in US
Chayse
Boy
Old French origin
"hunting grounds"
#3,654 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Sully's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sully
What does the name Sully mean?
"descendant of the dark-eyed one" (from Irish Gaelic). Sully is an anglicized short form of the Irish surname Sullivan, from the Gaelic Ó Súilleabháin, meaning descendant of Súilleabhán. The original name Súilleabhán is thought to derive from súil meaning eye and dubh meaning dark, giving the evocative meaning dark-eyed. Sullivan is one of the most common Irish surnames, and Sully emerged as its breezy, first-name-friendly version.
What is the origin of the name Sully?
Sully has Irish Gaelic, Irish, English, and American origins. In Irish Gaelic, it means "descendant of the dark-eyed one".
Is Sully a boy or girl name?
Sully is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #3579. As a girl name, it is ranked #58992. Sully is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Sully?
Sully is pronounced s-UHL-ee.
How popular is the name Sully?
Sully is currently ranked #3579 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Sully?
Common nicknames for Sully include Sul.
What are good middle names for Sully?
Popular middle name pairings include Sully James, Sully Patrick, Sully Thomas, Sully Michael, Sully John, Sully Finn, and Sully Rowan.
What are good sibling names for Sully?
Names that pair well with Sully as siblings include Finn, Declan, Liam, Nora, Maeve, Aoife, and Cormac.
How many syllables does Sully have?
Sully has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Sully a common or rare name?
Sully is an uncommon name, ranked #3579 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Sully?
Are there other spellings for Sully?
Related spellings include Sullivan.
About the Name Sully
Sully is a boy name with Irish, English, and American origins . The name means "descendant of the dark-eyed one" in Irish Gaelic .
Is Sully a boy or girl name? Sully is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #3,579 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #58,992. Sully is more commonly used as a boy name.
Sully is currently ranked #3,579 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Sully has 2 syllables and is pronounced s-UHL-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Sully include Sul. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Sully include Sullivan . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Irish Gaelic Names
Browse all names with this origin
S
Names Starting with S
More boy names like Sully
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis